Hand-Carved Body, Closely Matched Core and Coil Set Distinguish Koetsu Rosewood Signature Cartridge: Handcrafted Analog Instrument Is the Definition of "Refined"
The Koetsu Rosewood Signature cartridge epitomizes the very definitions of the term "refined." As in "impurities or unwanted elements having been removed by processing." Or, "elegant and cultured in appearance, manner, or taste." And "developed and improved so as to be precise and subtle." The Absolute Sound Product of the Year Award-winning Rosewood Signature is all of these and more, a hand-crafted instrument that remains on the most intimate terms with the microdetails and soulfulness in every one of your vinyl LPs. Similar in construction to its sister cartridge, Rosewood Standard (RED), Rosewood Signature features a more closely matched core and coil set that account for its more discriminating, fastidious performance. Boasting six-nines copper (99.9999% pure), special magnetic materials, and a hand-carved rosewood body that provide both a discerning physical makeup and selective sonic qualities claimed by no other manufacturer's cartridges, Rosewood Signature also offers Koetsu's signature (no pun intended) tonalities, delicious smoothness, and involving midrange. And don't worry – we won't judge you if you swoon every time Rosewood Signature's precision-ground stylus hits a record's groove. Welcome to analog paradise.
“This is one of the easiest recommendations I’ve ever made, in essence a gift for the music lover who would like to kick back at the end of a long day and just enjoy the music.”
—Dick Olsher, The Absolute Sound, Product of the Year Award
Like the Thrill of Hearing Vinyl for the Very First Time
Koetsu owners don't ask why. They just know. We could wax all day long about like-minded comparisons to these exquisite, handmade, ultra-exclusive cartridges. Similarities to collector automobiles, limited-batch scotches, and sought-after luxury goods ranging from super-complication watches to perfect-cut diamonds spring to mind. Like each Koetsu, these choice articles ignite our deepest passions and inspire within us emotion, enthusiasm, and excitement that nothing else comes close to matching.
How Much is Your Record Collection Worth?
At the end of the day, however, Koetsu cartridges don't require any fancy promotion or exaggerated typecasting. They stand alone for what they represent: The zenith of analog sound. These reverential musical instruments are all about musical transcendence and transformation. Indeed, while some listeners will inevitably demand how Koetsu justifies its pricing, our reply is simple: Once you listen, you'll hear and understand everything. Questions and doubts immediately melt away. All that's left behind is music distinguished with utmost ease, liquidity, vibrancy, clarity, responsiveness, and focus. The kind that leaves you wondering just how much detail, information, and texture you've missed on records you've heard hundreds of times.
Obsessed with Perfection, Koetsu is a Family Tradition
Founded in the 1970s by Yoshiaki Sugano – a multi-skilled boxer, sword maker, painter, metallurgist, and Toyota executive that held a special love for hi-fi audio – and named after Honami Koetsu, a 17th-century Japanese artist and calligrapher, Koetsu prizes tradition, purity, and perfection. A direct descendant of the medieval Koetsu, Sugano demanded his cantilevers be built of a "special" iron custom-made by a northern Japanese university that used a secret process. After receiving pre-aged rubber suspensions and rosewood bodies from other craftsman, Sugano painstakingly hand-built each cartridge in the same manner a legendary violin maker obsesses over a wood's finite grain and age. Koetsu cartridges stood out not only for their transparent sound and exotic materials, but for their "Urushi" lacquer coating. Today, Sugano's son, Fumihiko, carries on the proud legacy.
A Sound Investment: Trade-In or Rebuild Your Koetsu Cartridge and Save Big
Customers that already own a Koetsu have two great options to get a new cartridge. Trade-in your existing Koetsu cartridge (no matter the condition) and receive a 20% discount on any new Koetsu model. Upgrades have seldom come easier. Offering additional security and peace of mind on your investment, all Koetsu cartridges can also be completely rebuilt from the ground-up for a fraction of the price of a brand-new cartridge. The rebuilt cartridge will essentially be a new Koetsu featuring the same serial number and body of your original model. The rebuild process take approximately six to eight weeks from the time Music Direct receives your old cartridge.
Body: Rosewood
Type: moving coil
Coil wiring: copper
Magnet: Samarium cobalt
Cantilever: boron
Output: .4mV
Frequency range: 20Hz-100kHz
Channel separation: 25dB/1kHz
Inner impedance: 5 ohms
Channel balance: .5dB/1kHz
Recommended impedance: 30 ohms
Weight: 9g
Compliance: 5x10-6cm/dyne at 100Hz
Recommended Tracking Force: 1.8-2.0g
Recommended Load: 80-1,000 Ohms